Ornamental Ring

ABSTRACT

An ornamental ring of at least two parts with an outer ring ( 2 ) as the first part, and an inner ring ( 1 ) rotatable around multiple axes against the outer ring as the second part. The inner ring is removable from the outer ring ( 2 ) without the use of tools and connectable to the outer ring without the use of tools, with an outward curvature on the inner side ( 5 ) of the outer ring ( 2 ), and a corresponding outward curvature on the outer side ( 4 ) of the inner ring ( 1 ). The inward facing surface of the outer ring ( 2 ), and the outward facing surface of the inner ring ( 1 ) are free of elements projecting above the surfaces, with two indentations ( 7, 8 ) positioned diametrically opposite on the inner side ( 5 ) of the outer ring ( 2 ). Both of these extend from one of the two edges of the outer ring to the area with the greatest internal diameter of the outer ring, with a distance between the indentations ( 7, 8 ) being greater than the external diameter of the inner ring ( 1 ) and with the width of the indentations ( 7, 8 ) being greater than the width of the inner ring ( 1 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an ornamental ring of at least two parts, with an outer and inner ring which are rotatable along multiple axes relative to each other.

2. Description of Related Art

Ornamental rings of this type are well known from a technological viewpoint, for example from DE 299 24 052 U1. The disadvantage with well-known ornamental rings is that the inner ring and the outer ring are connected together with axle stubs, ball bearings, bush bearings, or anti-friction bearings so that a simple removal of the inner ring from the outer ring is not possible. In particular, the person wearing the ornamental ring cannot remove the inner ring from the outer ring without using tools. This places limits on the configuration and flexibility of the ornamental ring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an ornamental ring containing an inner and outer ring, whereby the outer ring and the inner ring can be separated without tools while not being worn on a person's body, and whereby the outer and inner ring while being worn will not come apart from each other by themselves.

This object is accomplished by an ornamental ring with the characteristics of claim 1. The outer ring has an inner side with an outward curvature. The inner ring has a corresponding curvature on its outer side. These curvatures are qualitatively identical. They are differentiated quantitatively by a small percentage to guarantee that the inner ring can rotate freely within the outer ring. The width of the inner ring and outer ring can thus be different. If the inner ring is wider than the outer ring, then while they are connected, a small portion of the inner ring protrudes beyond the outer ring. A part of the inner ring is thus always visible independently of its orientation relative to the outer ring. In order to connect and separate the inner and outer rings, two indentations are provided on the inner side of the outer ring which are diametrically opposite each other. They extend from one of the two edges or one of the two corners of the outer ring to the area with the greatest inner diameter of the outer ring. The distance between the two indentations is at least 0.1% greater than the outer diameter of the inner ring. That applies for the greatest outer diameter of the inner ring, in other words, the maximum outward curvature. For the indentation, a groove, depression, channel or dimple can be used, depending on the shape of the inner ring. The width of the indentations is slightly greater than the width of the inner ring. Typically the width of the indentations is at least 0.1% greater than the width of the inner ring. Due to the width and distance being adjusted to the inner ring it is guaranteed that the inner ring can be inserted into the indentation as well removed from it, without the inner ring thereby twisting and getting stuck.

To connect the two rings, the inner ring is oriented vertically to the outer ring and inserted into the two indentations on the inner side of the outer ring. Thereby a part of the curvature forms a catch on the inner side of the outer ring. If the inner ring is inserted into the outer ring as far as this catch, it can be rotated against the outer ring in any direction. If the inner ring is rotated against the outer ring so far that it is no longer positioned on the two indentations, it can be rotated in any direction without the two rings being able to come apart. Based on the curvature of the inner side of the outer ring and the corresponding curvature of the outer side of the inner ring, they are held in place. If the inner and outer rings are aligned together, the ornamental ring can be placed on a finger or wrist of the person who is to wear it. Since the inner ring can only be separated from the outer ring when the inner ring is positioned vertically to the outer ring and in the two indentations, a separation of the outer ring and the inner ring by themselves while the ornamental ring is being worn is not possible. The position needed to separate the inner and outer rings cannot be accomplished while the ornamental ring is being worn.

No tools are necessary to connect and separate the inner and outer rings. Furthermore no great strength nor any special skill has to be applied. The ornamental ring consists of merely an inner and outer ring. Other components are unnecessary to keep the inner ring in the outer ring. In particular the adjacent surfaces of the inner side of the outer ring and the outer side of the inner ring are free of any elements projecting above them, such as axle stubs, pins or bolts. The inner side of the inner ring can be shaped in any way. It is especially appropriate to have an inward curvature to facilitate placing it on a finger or wrist. The inner ring can also be worn without the outer ring, since it carries no special features to enable it to be connected to the outer ring.

In one advantageous development of the invention, the two indentations have an orientation parallel to the central axis of the outer ring from the edge of the outer ring to the area with the greatest inner diameter of the outer ring. The central axis extends toward the finger on which the ornamental ring is placed. It forms the center of all diameters of the outer ring. The diametral planes of the outer ring run perpendicular to this central axis. The orientation of the two indentations is thus also vertical to the diametral planes of the outer ring. This orientation of the indentations enables a particularly simple insertion and separation of the inner ring and outer ring. Moreover the length of the indentations in this case is smaller than when the indentations are at an angle when compared to the diametral planes.

In a further advantageous development of the invention the inner ring and outer ring can be produced from gold, silver, platinum, palladium, stainless steel, titanium, plastic, ceramic, wood, plastic, stone or glass. In particular the inner ring and outer ring can consist of different materials. Furthermore the inner ring and outer ring can be adorned with decorative gems, such as diamonds and other precious stones. Care must be taken that gems are not placed over the adjacent facing surfaces of the inner and outer rings, so as not to interfere with the free rotation of both rings. The width and thickness of the inner and outer rings can be selected at random. The outer side of the outer ring and the inner side of the inner ring can be fashioned in any manner. Furthermore on the outer side of the inner ring any designs can be applied that are not placed on top of the surface. For example this can be engravings, surface coatings or gems embedded into the surface.

The indentations form a gap on the inner side of the outer ring reaching to the area of the greatest inner diameter of the outer ring. This gap is not detectable when viewing the outer side of the outer ring. Since the gaps reach to one of the two edges of the outer ring, they can only be observed when the ornamental ring is assembled by viewing the corresponding edge.

In a further advantageous development of the invention the transition between the indentations and the remaining surface on the inner side of the outer ring was formed without corners, edges or angles. This enables a particularly simple insertion of the inner ring into the outer ring without any twisting. Moreover damage to the corners is avoided.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, both of the indentations can be formed in the tapered shape, so that the width of the indentations on the edge or corner of the outer ring is greater than in the area with the largest inner diameter of the outer ring. This facilitates the assembling of the inner and outer ring. Furthermore the width of the indentations from the corner of the outer ring to the area with the greatest inner diameter of the outer ring can be identical.

Additional advantages and advantageous developments of the invention can be deduced from the claims, the drawing and the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawing an exemplary embodiment of an ornamental ring corresponding to the invention is depicted. The figures show the following:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a first sample model of an ornamental ring with identically aligned inner and outer rings,

FIG. 2 shows a ornamental ring such as in FIG. 1 in perspective representation with inner ring 1 aligned vertically relative to outer ring 2,

FIG. 3 shows a ornamental ring such as in FIG. 1 as seen from above,

FIG. 4 shows a ornamental ring such as in FIG. 1 in cross-sectional representation, as shown along the plane designated B-B in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 shows a ornamental ring such as in FIG. 1 as seen from below,

FIG. 6 shows a ornamental ring such as in FIG. 1 in cross-sectional representation, as shown along the plane designated A-A in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows a detail from FIG. 5,

FIG. 8 shows a detail from FIG. 6,

FIG. 9 shows a detail of a second sample model of an ornamental ring in a representation analogous to FIG. 7 of the first sample model.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 through 8 a first sample model of an ornamental ring is represented in different views. The ornamental ring consists of an inner ring 1 and an outer ring 2. The outer ring has been provided with two indentations 7 on its inner side. Both indentations 7 are identically shaped and are positioned opposite each other, so that they have the greatest possible distance from each other on the inner side of outer ring 2. The angular distance in relation to the full circle of the outer ring is 180°. The inner side 5 of the outer ring 2 is curved outward. The outer side 6 of outer ring 2 is curved outward.

The profile of the inner side 3 of inner ring 1 has an inward curvature. This form facilitates putting the ring on and taking it off. The inner ring 1 can also be worn without outer ring 2. The outer side 4 of inner ring 1 has an outward curvature with a predetermined radius. This curvature is aligned to the curvature on the inner side 5 of outer ring 2 so that outer ring 2 and inner ring 1 fit together in the assembled position depicted in FIG. 1. Outer ring 2 and inner ring 1 are countered against each other. The clearance between the outer ring and the inner ring is ca. 10% in the sample model. The radii of the curvature for the inner side 5 of outer ring 2 and the outer side 4 of inner ring 1 are thus nearly identical.

All data concerning the curvature are with respect to the central point defined by the two circular rings. This point is marked in FIG. 3 as the intersection of two vertical lines.

FIG. 2 shows the ornamental ring with a 90° angle between inner ring 1 and outer ring 2. In this position inner ring 1 is inserted into outer ring 2. In this case inner ring 1 is placed into the two indentations 7 on the inner side 5 of outer ring 2. The two indentations 7 are recognizable in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The depth of the two indentations 7 opposite the remaining inner side 5 of outer ring 2 is selected so that the spatial distance of the two indentations corresponds to the outer diameter of the inner ring. The width of the two indentations 7 corresponds to the width of inner ring 1. The two indentations 7 extend therefore over a certain section on the inner side of outer ring 2. In this section they follow the circular form of the outer ring. The curvature of outer side 4 of the inner ring can be aligned to this circular form.

Since the two indentations 7 as depicted in FIGS. 6 and 8 only extend from the edge to one-half of the inner side of outer ring 2 and to the center of the width of outer ring 2, respectively, inner ring 1 cannot be inserted all the way into the outer ring. The remaining inner side 5 of outer ring 2 forms a catch. In FIG. 1 inner ring 1 is inserted as far as this catch into outer ring 2. In this position inner ring 1 is located halfway inside outer ring 2. If a straight line is drawn through the cross-sectional points of inner ring 1 and outer ring 2, it would divide the two rings into two half-rings, which correspond to a half-circle. The straight line corresponds to an axis of rotation around which inner ring 1 can be turned to reach the position depicted in FIG. 1. In similar fashion inner ring 1 is separated from the outer ring.

Inner ring 1 and outer ring 2 have just so much clearance that they can be rotated while assembled in any direction relative to each other. A rotation is possible around any axis whatever. Due to the curvature of the inner side of the outer ring and the outer side of the inner ring, the inner ring is held within the outer ring. The inner ring's removal from the outer ring is only possible in the position depicted in FIG. 2, if the inner ring is situated in the indentations of the outer ring. Since the ornamental ring while being worn has been placed by a person on a finger and the position necessary for removal cannot be accomplished, the inner ring and outer ring cannot be inadvertently separated. To separate them, it is necessary to take the ring off the finger, whereby the ornamental ring changes its appearance and different areas of the inner ring are visible depending on position.

The outer sides of inner ring 1 and outer ring 2 can be formed in any manner. Care only needs to be taken that the outer side 4 of inner ring 1 contains the curvature matching inner side 5 of outer ring 2. The design of the outer side of the inner ring may therefore not result in parts of the remaining surface overlapping. Among appropriate designs, for example, are engravings or gems or diamonds embedded into the surface.

In FIG. 9 is a representation of the detail of a second sample model of an ornamental ring. The only difference from the first sample model such as in FIGS. 1 through 8 is in the form of the indentions 8. These are formed without corners. The transitions between indentation 8 and the remaining inner side of the outer ring are rounded off. In contrast to this, the indentations 7 of the ornamental ring such as in the first sample model represented in FIG. 7 are provided with corners.

All features of the invention may be significant to the invention, whether individually or in any combination with each other.

Table of Parts 1 Inner ring 2 Outer ring 3 Inner side of inner ring 4 Outer side of inner ring 5 Inner side of outer ring 6 Outer side of outer ring 7 Indentation 8 Indentation 

1. An ornamental ring of at least two parts, comprising: with an outer ring (2) as the first part, with an inner ring (1) rotatable around multiple axes against the outer ring as the second part, the inner ring being removable from the outer ring (2) without the use of tools and connectable to the outer ring without the use of tools with an outward curvature on the inner side (5) of the outer ring (2), and a corresponding outward curvature on the outer side (4) of the inner ring (1), with an inward facing surface of the outer ring (2) and an outward facing surface of the inner ring (1), which are free of elements projecting above the surfaces, with two indentations (7, 8) positioned diametrically opposite on the inner side (5) of the outer ring (2), both of these extend from one of the two edges of the outer ring to the area with the greatest internal diameter of the outer ring, with a distance between the indentations (7, 8) being greater than the external diameter of the inner ring (1) and with the width of the indentations (7, 8) being greater than the width of the inner ring (1).
 2. Ornamental ring according to claim 1, wherein the two indentations (7, 8) have an orientation vertical to the diametral planes of the outer ring from the edge of the outer ring (2) to the area with the largest internal diameter of the outer ring (2).
 3. Ornamental ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transition between the indentations (8) and the remaining surface on the inner side (5) of the outer ring (2) are constructed without an edge.
 4. Ornamental ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the indentations (7, 8) are invisible when observing the outer side of the outer ring (2).
 5. Ornamental ring according to one of the previous claims, wherein the indentations (7, 8) have a curvature corresponding to the outer side (4) of the inner ring (1).
 6. Ornamental ring according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the bottom of the indentations (7, 8) has a flat, level orientation.
 7. Ornamental ring according to one of the previous claims, wherein the indentations (7, 8) are being constructed in tapered shape.
 8. Ornamental ring according to one of the previous claims, wherein ornamental or precious stones are mounted into the surface of the outer side (4) of the inner ring (1). 